tractor cultivator



B. R. BENJAMIN ET AL o TRACTOR CULTIVATOR April 24, 9'28.

Filed Aug. 5. 1925 3 sheets-sheet 4 Apri124, 192s.

B. R. BENJAMIN ET AL TRACTOR CULTIVATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Filed Aup, 1925 April 24, 1928.

B. R. BENJAMIN ET Al.

TRACTOR CULTIVATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 www Filed Aug. 5. 1925 l. wkn/! Patented Apr. 2 4, 1928.

raar It. BENJAMIN, oF OAK PARK, AND CLEMMA n. RANEY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, f

PATENT' oFFIcE.

ASSIGNORS T INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A `CORPORATION' OF JERSEY.

TRACTOR cUIxrIvAfron.`

Application filed August 5, 1925.v Serial No. 48,200.V

This invention relates to tractor cultivators and is directed more particularly to improvement in the means for guiding and turning themachine. i

The main object of the invention is to provide a machine capable of making very short turns at the head lands when not actually working the soil and which is prevented from making such turns while the implements are in the soil, thereby obviating accidental damage to plant rows.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a machineot' the class stated in which the steering mechanism and cultivating mechanism are corelated in such a manner that the steering'mechanism is employed to guide the cultivating implements while at work and theA position of the cultivating implements in turn controls the operation ot the steeringmeans.

Another object is to provide one control for both the cultivator guiding mechanism and the `implement steering means.

These and other minor objects, which will '5 becomeapparent as the description proceeds, are attained by providing a tractor having diiferentially driven tractor wheels each of which has an independent brake and a steering truck or .wheels having a delayed action coupling with each brake, and, by mountingthe cultivating mechanism on the tractor in such manner that the vertical position of the cultivating tools is made to control the mechanism that operates the brakes through movement of the steering truck.

The invention accordingly resides in the organization and details of constructionkor equivalents thereof, hereinafter more specilically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevation ot a tractor cultivator embodying the invention;

Fig. is aplan View;

F ig. 3 is a detail side view of the forward end ot the tractor, certain parts being shown in section; and

Figs. fl, 5 and 6 are detail views in plan of the mechanism for operating the tractor wheel brakes, the parts being shown in different positions in the respective figures.

In the present embodiment of the invention the tractor carrying the cultivatingde-` vice comprises a narrow main frame or body ltlsupported at the rear on the transverse axle housing 1l, which extends laterally beyond both sidesotl the frame 10 to providewidely spaced reartraction wheels 12. The forward endV of the tractor is supported on a steering truck 13 which preferably has two closely positioned wheels which are located midway between the two traction wheels 12, the wheel arrangement being such that the machine can straddle two rows of growing plants such as corn. Between the side beams forming the main body 10 of the tractor there is mounted a suitable engine 14:, to the rearotl which are theclutch, transmission and differential housings. The axle `housing 11 i contains ydifferentially driven shafts which project beyond the housing 11 at each end where they are provided withbrake drums 15. Each end oi the axle housing 11 has secured to it a depending gear housing 16 in which there `is journaled a large gear fixed to'the spindle of the traction wheel and driven by a suitable pinion on one of the differential shafts in the housing 11. The inner faces ot' the gear housing 1G carry brackets 17 and 18 on which is supported an arched draft bar 19, parts of which are visible in Fig. 2. The forward ends of the longitudinal beams forming the body oi the tractor are connected by a crosshead preferably consisting of asingle casting having a horizontally.extending portion 20 and an upwardly arched portion 21 merging into a cent al upwardly extending, tubular portion 22. The tubular portion 22 and` the horizontal portion 2O` of the cross-head provide bearings for the vertical standard or spindle 23 of thetruck 13 which is thus made capable of turning or swiveling to steer the machine. The upper end of the tubular portion 22 of the crosshead has clamped to it a bracket 24 carrying a short shaft on which is fixed pinions 26 and 27. The upper end ot' spindle 23projects beyond the bracket 211 and has fixed to it a gear sector 28 in mesh with theA pinion 26. The other pinion 2T is in mesh witha pinion 29 on the forward end ot' a steering shaft 30 extending to the rear of the tractor in proximity to. the drivers seat where it is provided with a steering `wheel .31. Shaft 30 is suitably'supported in bearings at the front and rear of the tractor and it will be evident that its; rotation will be connnnnicated throughpinione :3T and 9,6 to the gear sector and thneI serve to steer the trnclt.

@n spindle 23 ot' the trnclr nt a point inet above the horizontal portion El() ot the crosshetid there is; jonrnaled a collar 32, is seen in 3, on` `which there is 'liorined an integral rearwerdly extendinf erin 33 having` zi terminal eye ylhe eye Bel `receives tvv'o cmnolingl linlreA 35 attached respectively to cable?l 36 passing over-eheaves 37 on erich eide ot the tor-Ward end ont the tractor 'traine and extending reeiiwm ily to orme 38 tir-:ed on separate brelc shafts Si) controlling the brake brinde on brel-:e drinne l5. .lust above collar 391 (Fig. l) 'there keyed or otherwise tiXcd onthe spindle 23 a second coller et() lnivine'v :in integral torivzirdly projecting erin -il-l. The lon'er edge of iV "ar il.) is stepped or cut entry Jrior substantially hfalt ite cir-` cnrniiercnce to provide dirimetricelly opposite ssnoulders e152, While the 'opper edge olf sleeve 232 ie similarly cnt away for substantially two-thirds -otits circnintei'fence `to provide opposite Should .Ll-B positioned to be engaged by shoulders l2 zitter :i predetern'iined on'ionnt of independent inovenicnt of the spindle 'with sleeve Ll() and arm el hns token place. During straight forward travel o't thetractor the Sleeves 32 and 4:0, together with their arms 33 and 4-1, will be in the positions shown in Fig. 4i, the `space then existing betiveen each et the shoulders l2 and 43 being there indicated in dotted lines. lWhen spindle 9.3 iebeing' turned to ,steer the trector. the space between Shoulders-l2 und ill will permit angular moi/'ement or" the spindle together with Sleeve 40 to an angle of enbetnntiolly Il?) degrees in either direction, as in Fig. (Letter which further angular inovenient of the Spindle will. cause a shoulder i2 to engage` a shoulder 43, thereby rotating sleeve 32 and erin 33. as in Fig, and censing tension to be applied to one ot tbe cables 36 torapplyin.' the brake to the trection Wheel on the inside of the turn being inade. For the inirpose oli limit-ine'A the cxtreme range oit swing' ot arni l-l,.it is provided :it either eide with heads adapted to engage iabntlnentst formed on the arched port-ione of the crees-heid. Therefore, with the'ineclianisn'i f-to ilior'deecribed itl will be evident that limited steering inoveniente ot the trnclt 13 can be effected Without actuating' `the breites on the differential driving" sbatte for the rear Wheels, bntthat when e Short. quick turn is-to be inade extreme movement oli the Steering* truck nill serve to apply the brake to theinner traction Wheel thereby greatly accelerotingthe turn .and shortening its rirdins.

The steering mechanism described is inemechanically interrelated With cnltivetiin inecbeniein nreterably inon-nted on the yforward end of the tractor and comprising; torfh i l noemen vv'ardly projecting pivot :irme 46 jonrneled in brackets 47 onthe tractor and Supporting` a transversely extending' iniplei'nent enpportingj benin or ineinber 48 to which the arms i6 ere pivotally connected lbuv nieans of brzzclrote 49. Brace bare tit) are preferably employed to supplement the :irme lo and the upper onee et tlieee bars support a diegonally extending control bar 5l, one end ot which is slotted in; at to engage a pin B2i on one olf the here 5U, thee liniitinfr the lateral swing ot' urine el@ and bers 50 to the ei:- tent of movement. ot pin 53 in slot 5&2 and 'eorrespondiiigli7 reetr'loting` lateral ineren'ient oli `the cultivating tools end angular inoven'ient et erin -il 'when eng' V'ed therewith,y snchreneje et n'ioveinent is perinitted by Slot being` within the range of independent'movement ot' erin L il above described. Tl

is connected by n spreader arch 59 to :t pair f oi cnltivetor beanie 57 and it will be evident that actuation ot' lever 5S) will canse swingingn ot' the arch 55 and movementv ofthe spreader arch 59 to impart a Substantially vertical litt to the cnltivator beanie 57, as indireted in dotted lines on Fig'. l. to eileet lateral guiding inoveinent of the cultivating; inechanienrin unison with steering increment ot the truck tl ere is provided on the snindle 23 of the truc r e collar 60 (Fig. 3) which is free to torn thereon and is provided with a 'forwardly extei'iding` notched lng 6l receiving' `a bolt on the rear end ot a longitudinally extending coupling' arin G2 poeitioned inet above erin l-11-hereto'l'ire deecribed. This :i1-1n 41 is provided :it its torvrard end Withan arcuate heed (lf3 having; o central. notchl. and the coupling arini provided. on its nnder Side with a bracket cni,if}fin it vertical Sprinp' preeeed pevvl 6G norinallv engaging; notch (3ftlrt its 'torn'sird end the coupling :nini GQ ie connected bv snitable linltztg'e 6T with the transveree member il-8q and it is accordingli7 possible to Shitt n'ieinber 148 laterallyY and with it the cultivating; tools b v turningr the eteeiiinjf trnclr in theordinarlv Wav] lin order toreleise the Steer-ingr mechanism troni the cultiin., anisin When the latterie not in nee e nan'l orlzitch 66 is connected by a rod 6? vfitli one erin on a roclt'ehatt 69 carried on ine-inber i-8, it cushion spring `'70 being preferably interposed between rod 68 and its ln order ltlll lllf actuating arin. The sl1aft69 is formed with asecond downwardly extending arm `71 having an` angular/extension, or crank, 72 extending in the rpath ot movement of one of the arches, these parts beingV so related that forward rocking movement ot arch when the cultivator beams are raised will lock shaft 69 thereby exerting a pull on latch 66. through rod 68 and causing withdrawal of the latch from notch 64 thereby releasing the cultivating mechanism from the steering mechanism and permitting the free manipulation thereof to effect ashort turn, it' desired. Y v With the mechanism above described it will be evident that a construction has `been devised wherebyl cultivating mechanism is controlledby the steering mechanism ot the tractor and given an amplified range of lateral shifting movement due to mounting of the cultivatingmechanism on the outer ends of forwardly extending arms 50, while at the same time the cultivatingv mechanism, when in use, modifies the action of the steering mechanism in such a way as to prevent excessive and injurious deviations from the proper working path, and that with the cultivating mechanism out of` operating position the'machine is capable of making short turns as necessary when :cultivating row crops. There has, therefore, been deviseda machine particularly-well adapted for work between plant rows, possessing means tor aocurately and easily guiding the machine in its work as well as means for quickly turning it about for return travelat each end of a field. IVhilethe .specificeonstruction described presents the preferred `embodiment of the invention, it willV be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereof are possible lwithin the scope of the by Benjamin et al., Serial No\.`735,740,iled

Sept. 4, 1924, since issued as Patents 1,607,230 Nov. 16, 1926, and 1,539,108 May 26, 1925.-

IVhat 'is `claimed as new is:

1. Ina power propelled cultivator, the combination of a main frame, an implement frame mounted thereon for lateral movement andcarrying vertically movable tool a beams, means for 'aising and lowering the beams, dirigible carrying means supporting the front of the main frame and differentially driven traction wheels supporting the rear, individually operable brakes for the traction wheels, steering means connected to the front carrying means and the implement frame for guidingthe `macliineand correspondingly shifting the implement `trame laterally, means operable by the steeringmeans for actuating thel brakes of the. traction wheel at the inner side during a turn,and

means for preventing operation of the brakes by the steering means when the beams are down. i

2. In a power propelled cultivator, the

`combination of a `main frame, `cultivating the wheels, shifting the tools laterally, and

applying either brake separately,` means making said control device effective for Shifting the tools laterally when `the tools are down andl ineffective when they are up, and means preventing application of the brakes bysaid control device when the tools are dow i 3. In a power propelled cultivator, the

combination of'a .main frame, cultivating tools mounted thereon for vertical and lateral movement, means for raising yand low! ering the tools, steeringwheels supporting the front ofthe frame and differentially driven supporting-wheels supporting the rear, individually operablebrakes for the traction wheels` means foi-applying either brake separately, a single control device for steering the wheels and shifting the tools laterally, means making said control device effective for shifting the tools laterally when the tools are down and ineffectiveV when they are up, andmeans preventing operation of the `brake applying means when the tools are down.i` p l 4. In a power propelled cultivator,` the combinationjof a main framep-cultivating tools mounted thereon for vertical-"move ment, means for raising and lowering Vthe tools, steering wheels supporting the front of the frame and differentially;driventrac-` tion wheels supporting the rear, individually operable brakes for the traction wheels, means for applying either brake separately, a single control device for steering the wheels and for applying either brake" sep-1 arately, `and means preventing the brakes from being applied by said control devicej; while the tools are down.

5. In a power propelled cultivator, the combination oi a main frame, cultivating tools mounted thereon for vertical move! ment, means ior raising and lowering the tools, steering wheels supportingthe front ot the frame and diii'erentially driven traction wheels supporting the rear, individually operable brakes for the traction wheels, a

CJI

means actuated by steering movement of the truck for shifting the tools laterally including means providing a ange ot' movement for the tools amplified over that of the steering movement, means complemental to the steering truck for causing a short turn of the tractor, and unitary control means 'for actuating the steering truck and for obtaining a short turn at the end of the rows.

l5. A. tractor cultivator comprising a body supported on differentially driven rear traction wheels and a forecarriage having a standard swiveled in a vertical bearing, means for turning the standard to steer the forecarriage, a brake for each traction wheel, a frame mounted on the tractor by means permitting it to have lateral shitting movement, tillage tools carried by the `frame, a brake lever pivoted on the foi-ecarriage and movable with respect to the standard, flexible connecting means extending from said lever to each brake, a projecting member fixed to said standard and movable therewith, means for connecting said mem ber with the shit'utable frame, and means on said member for swinging the brake lever after a predetermined movement of said `member in either direction.

1G. A tractor cultivator comprising a body supported on differentially driven rear traction wheels and a forecarriage having a standard swiveled in a vertical bearing, means for turning the standard to steer the forecarriage, a brake for each traction wheel, a frame mounted on the tractor by means permitting` it to have lateral shifting movement, tillage tools carried by the frame,

a brake lever pivoted on the orecarriage and movable with respect to the standard, flexible connecting means extending from said lever to each brake, a projecting member lixed to said standard and movable therewith, latch controlled means for connecting said member with the shiftable trame at will, means on said member for swinging the brake lever after a pre-determined movement of said member in either direction, and means on the shiftable frame for preventing a degree of movement of said member, when connected thereto, sufficient to elleet swingingo the brake lever.

17. A tractor cultivator comprising a body supported on differentially driven rear traction Wheels and a forecarriage having aA standard swiveled in a vertical bearing, means for turning thestandard tosteer the lorecarriage, a brake for each traction wheel, a frame supported on the body in advance of the forecarriage by means permitting the frame to have lateral shifting movement, tillage tools carried by the f ame. a brake lever pivoted on the standard, flexible connecting means extending from said leve-r to each brake, a forwardly project-ing arm fixed to the stan-dard, means for connecting said arm with the shiftable frame, and means on said arm for engaging the brake lever after a predetermined degree of movement of the arm.

In testimony whereof we aix our signaf tures. y

BERT R'. BENJAMIN. CLEMMA R.` RANEY. 

